this week, she was welcomed home by her twin sister, who served in iraq, and her children. >> i'll be in the army when i grow up, following in my mommy's footsteps. >> reporter: first lieutenant daniel loeffler dropped out of college, turned down a good job and joined the army after 9/11. back after his fifth deployment. >> i'm certainly glad to be home, although it means that someone else is over there fighting in my place. >> reporter: though the surge is over, the war is not. there are still 68,000 american troops in afghanistan -- troops that loeffler hopes will someday see success. >> 30 years from now, i would loveo be sitting on my couch talking to my grandchildren, telling them about afghanistan and how the people don't live in fear anymore and that i had a part in earning that freedom. >> reporter: but that is a determination that is a long way away. martha raddatz, abc news, washington. >> our thanks to martha tonight. so many powerful homecomings, so many families back home this weekend. >>> we're going to turn now to the headline out of hollywood tonight. the countdown is